Blank arranging mechanism



Dw- 10, 1935 J. J. WILLIAMs'E-r AL 2,023,561

BLANK ARRANGING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mvg/ram Dec. l0, 1935. J. J. WILLIAMSEr AL BLANK ARRANGING MECHANISM Filed D60. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 BLANK ARRANGING MEcnANIsM John J. Williams and Joseph Bauman, Wheeling,

W. Va., assignors to Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Wes Virglnia.

Application December 18, 1933, Serial No. 702,978 15 Claims. (Cl. 113-114) In the manufacture of metallicicaps thev blanks are formed on one machine, and these blanks are subsequently delivered to one or more machines for performing such operations as threading,

beading and curling. When the blanks are delivered from the forming dies to a conveyer or chute it is practically impossible to deliver all of them facing in the same direction, particularly small blanks. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which will rapidly and efciently cause all of the blanks to face in the same direction in passing from any point of reception to any point of delivery.A

The various advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which,

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure'l.V v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line lI-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional I view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3. y Referring tok the drawings in more detail, nu-

meral I indicates a shaft suitably mounted upon a base plate 2. This shaft is continuously rotated by any desired means, as bya sprocket wheel 3 driven by a chain 4 from any preferred source of power.

Numeral 5 refers to a. wheel mounted on the shaft I to continuously rotate therewith, and this wheel carries means for acting on the blanks. Such means and thev mode of operation will be described hereinafter. A`Detachably mounted on the face of the wheel 5, as by screws 6, 6, is a holder disk 'I for transporting the blanks while they are being acted upon. The periphery of this ldisk or holder is provided with a plurality of pockets 8; in this particular machine eight of such pockets being provided. These pockets are `rtilescigned to suit the particular blanks being han- Numeral 9 refers to a chute leading Afrom the forming dies or from any other point where the blanks are received', and by reference to Figure l it will be noted that the blanks are not all facing in the same 'direction in the chute. The lower end of the chute is in alignmentwith the holder disk 1, and as the blanks reach the continuously revolving holder they are successively received in the pockets 8; the blanks indiscriminately facing in either direction when positioned'in the pockets. The machine is used for orienting blanksof different diameters and of different depths, and dif- 5 ferent holders 1 are preferably used when blanks of materially different size are vbeing treated. For that reason, and also for the original setting of the chute with the holder, ritis desirable that the chute 9 be adjustable. 'For this purpose the 10 lower end of the chute is mounted for'vertical adjustment on a bracket I0, as by means of the slots II and bolts I2. And the bracket IIJ is mounted on the base plate I for forward and backward adjustment, as by means of the slots I3 and bolts I4. l5 Thus the lower end of the chute can be accurately adjusted with 'respect to the holder 1 and wheel 5.

lA second chute, referred to by the numeral I5, and independent of the chute 9, is positioned ad- 20 jacent theholder 1 to receive the blanks when they are delivered from the holder. In the'specie form illustrated the part of this chute adjacent the lholder is wider than the chute 9,' for some of the blanks are to be toppled over into the 25 chute, as illustrated in Figure 3. .The chute is gradually narrowed away from the holder disk'. It will be noted that the chute `is` designed to cooperate with the pockets 8 from their top position to a point some little distance to the right (Fig. 30 1), for in the specific form illustrated the blanks are ejected either at the top or shortly after passing the top, depending upon the direction in which the blanks face; though it will be understood that the operations could be performed at 35 other positions, if preferred. Thisv chute I5 is also preferably adjustable with respect` to the holder 1 and wheel 5. To secure the desired adjustments the upper end of the chute'is mounted for vertical adjustment on a bracket lI6, as by 40 means of slots I1 and bolts I8;,and the bracket I6 is mounted on the base plate 2 for forward and backward adjustment, as byl means of slots I9 and bolts 20. y

`The means for orienting the blanks during the 45 continuous rotation of the wheel 5 andholder 1, will now be described. A plurality of feelers or plungers 2I are slidably mounted in the wheel 5; there being eight of these plungers or feelers in the specic form illustrated, one of them being 50 associatedwith each of the pockets 8.` In the specific form shown the feelers are attached Vto reciprocable head 2 I When the feelers are pro-` jected forward they extend through openings 22 in the face of wheel 5 into the pocketsy 8. The 65 cular path of travel. vided for successively projecting each feelerforward, andv this cam is preferably mounted for adjustment on 'a cam plate 24, as by means of slots 25,and boltsv 26.` :The cam plate is mounted on the bed plate 2,` and if desired it may be mounted for adjustment backward and forward.

In the specific construction illustrated the feelers are snapped back after leaving the cam 23 by means of springs 21, and therearward movement is limited by stop screws 28. ,Thefeelers or plungel ers remain in the retracted positiony until they again reach the cam 23. 4By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the inner wall of the chute |5 isso designed that it projects slightly `above the bottoms of the pockets when the pockets are at thei top of their circular path,as indicated by numeral |5'.. This construction assists in toppling inafter. y g

Blanks whichface in one direction are ejected and toppled over by the plunger .when the par'- ticular pocket is at the Itop of' its circular path; butV blanks facing in the opposite direction are in no wayaffectedby-the action of the plunger', and are carried forwardand ejected by air pressure, in this-particular form, without being toppled over. Of course the airv under pressure maybe over the blanks, as will appear more fully heredelivered at any'desired point; but in the present form, two vairV nozzles 29, 30,' are mounted o'n the cam plate 24 slightly tothe right (Fig. 2) ofthe cam 23. Air under pressure is constantly supplied to these nozzles 29and30, by pipes 29 and 30.', connected with any desired source of compressed air, orother fluid pressure. The pipes 29 and 30' are preferably providedwith valves 29 and 30", to control the ow lof the air 'or other uidunder pressure. The wheel 5 is provided with a plurality 'of sets of air passages, there beingy one set for each pocket 3 in the'holder, andk in the specific form illustrated there are two passagesy 3| and 32 inleach set, to cooperate with the two nozzles 29 and 30.' It will be understood that a single nozzle' may be employed, if desired, and inv such eventthere would beonly one passage associatedwith each pocket; or if preferred more than two of the nozzles and 'passages could be f employed. In the particular construction illustrated the passages 3 land' 32 are tapered at vtheir outlet ends lso that the compressedjair is dis-I charged through relatively small outlet` ports-33 and3l. f'. "j

f 'Ihe following brief description of Vthe operation of the apparatus will refer particularly to the orienting of blanks for caps, but it will belunderstood that theinvention is 'equally well adaptable to the orientin'g of completed caps wherever such operation is desirable. jTh'e, wheel '5 and the blank holder lare turning continuously to the right, as'indicated bythe arrow in Figure: 1; and,

the blanks are continuously fed to and positioned in the pockets 8 "by means of the chute 9 or vby any other desired means. When the blanks are received in thechute 9 they indiscriminately face in either' of two direc'tionsand consequently they are indiscriminately facing Yin either` direction whenpositioned in the'pockets 8. As each pocket approachesthe top of the path of rotation, the cam 23 projectsv the plunger or feeler 2|. forward.-

ly' into itsas'sociated pocket. If the blank happens to be so positioned in the pocket that its open end is facing away from the plunger then A stationary cam 23 is prol aoaasei the plunger will strike the back (or top) of the blank and topple it over, as indicated in full lines in Figure 3. To assist in toppling over the blank they Wall of the chute |5 is raised slightly above the bottom of the pockets 8 when the pockets are 5 atvthe top of their circular path. This portion of the chute, indicated by numeral l5 on Figure 3, acts las .an obstruction or baille to hold the lower portion of the blank when the blank is struck by the plunger 2|. While this is the pre- 10 f erred construction .it will be'understood that the invention is not limited to any such arrangev-ment,.as the blanks can be successfully toppled over without 'any' obstructing means at the lower portions of the-blanks. As the blank shown in 15 The blankhaving been discharged, the pocket continues its travel until it again reaches the 20 chute 9l and receives another blank; and of course the plunger or feeler 2| is retracted by the spring 21 as soon as the head 2| leaves the' cam 23.

Letiis now be'assumed that the blank is 'positioned oppositely 'to that previously described, 25 so that its open end faces tothe right (Figure 3). In such revent, when the pocket approaches the top of itsLtravel the plunger or feeler will be projected forwardly as before, butA as clearly shown inFig. 3 it has no effect upon the blank, 30

as the plunger does not projectinto the pocket far enough to strike the blank when` theblank is positioned with its open end to the right. With a blank so positioned it is carried onward in its continuous travel until the air passage or pas- 35` sages in `thewheel 5 come into alignment with the air nozzles. Air or 'other fluid under pressure'is being constantly delivered from thev nozzle or nozzles and when the passages are passing these nozzles the airunder pressure will pass 40 therethroughA and strike the blank, as illustrated in Figure 4. By reference to that figure it will be apparent vthat the blank is blown from the pocket with its open end still facing'to the right, as shown in full' lines, and drops into the chute 45 l5 still facing, in the same direction, so that the blankswhich are discharged by the air under pressure facein' the L'same direction as the blanks which are toppled over byA the p1ungers. Thus all ofthe blanks are properly' oriented for' de- 50 livery to another Vmachine orfor any other purpose. e f r j We have described above one mode of operation of this machine. It will be apparent 'however that the machine is capable ofoperating vin an- |525y other mannerHkwithout the use ofthe air pressure. In thedescription of such operation it will be assumed that theairrlines and the passages 3| and'32 are omitted. In4 such a. construction, when a blank with its open end facing tothe left (Flg- 60 ure 3) reaches the" top of it's'travel the plunger or Vfeeler will toppleV it over just as described hereinbefore, s'o `that wheniit falls into' the chute l5 its open endfwill face to the right. If now another blank is positioned in' a pocket with' its 65 f open end facing to the right, themovement of into the chute I5. 'Ihus 'the blanks which are 75 originally positioned with their open ends facing to the left (Figure 3) will be toppled over so that their open ends will face to the right; and blanks which were originally positioned with their open ends facing to the right will be discharged by gravity in such position. If two chutes are employed to receive the discharged blanks, one of the chutes may lead into the other, or the two chutes may separately deliver the oriented blanks As mentioned hereinbefore, Where caps of materially different diameters or materially different depths are being oriented, it is desirable to employ different holders 1; and in this connection attention is called to the fact that the holder may be removed merely by removing the bolts 6.

While the apparatus has been described in considerable detail, yet it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including continuously moving means for transporting a blank, and a reciprocable plunger operative during the continued movement of said means for ejecting said blank when it faces in one direction, said reciprocable plunger having no effect upon the blank when it faces in the opposite direction.

2. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including movable means for transporting a blank in substantially a vertical plane, and means operative during the continued movement of the transporting means for ejecting a blank therefrom by fluid pressure without changing the direction in which the blank faces.

3. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including means for holding a blank, a reciprocable plunger effective to eject blanks facing in one direction, and fluid pressure means v effective to eject blanks facing in the opposite direction.

4. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously rotating holder carrying blanks, and means for ejecting and reversing during ejection those blanks which face in a particular direction.

5. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a holder rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and carrying blanks, and means operative during the continued rotation of said holder for successively blowing from said holder those blanks which face in a particular direction, said means being effective without changing the direction in which the blanks face.

6. Apparatus for arrangng blanks and the like, including a continuously rotating holder carrying blanks, means operative during the continued rotation of said holder for ejecting therefrom blanks which face in a particular direction, and other means for ejecting from said holder blanks which face in the opposite direction.

7. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously rotating holder carrying blanks, a reciprocable plunger operative during the continued rotation of said holder for successively ejecting from the holder blanks facing in a particular direction, said plunger being ineffective to eject blanks facing in the opposite direction.

8. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously rotating holder carrying the blanks, a reciprocable plunger for'successively 5 ejecting from the continuously rotating holder blanks facing in a particular direction, and means for subsequently discharging from the holder blanks facing in the opposite direction.

9. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, 10 including a rotatable holder carrying the blanks,

a reciprocable plunger for successively ejecting and capsizing blanks facing in a particular direction, and means for subsequently discharging from the holder blanks facing in the opposite 15 direction.

10. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a rotatable holder carrying the blanks, a reciprocable plunger for successively ejecting and capsizing blanks facing in a partic- 20 ular direction, and means for ejecting without capsizing blanks facing in the opposite direction.

11. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a rotatable holder carrying the blanks, means for successively ejecting and cap- 25 sizing blanks facing in a particular direction, and a fluid blast for ejecting without capsizing blanks facing in the opposite direction.

12. Apparatusfor arranging blanks and the like, including a rotatable holder carrying the 30 blanks, a reciprocable plunger for successively ejecting and capsizing blanks facing in a particular direction, and a fluid blast for ejecting without capsizing blanks facing in the opposite direction.

13. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously revolving holder, having a plurality of pockets, means for feeding blanks to said pockets, a reciprocable plunger associated with each of said pockets and travel- 40 ling with said holder, and means for successively projecting said plungers into the pockets, said plungers ejecting from said holder during the continuous rotation thereof the blanks facing in a particular direction, and said plungers being ineffective to eject blanks facing in the opposite direction.

14. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously revolving holder having a plurality of pockets, means for feeding blanks to' said pockets, a reciprocable plunger associated with each of said pockets and travelling with said holder, means for successively projecting said plungers into the pockets, said plungers ejecting and capsizing blanks facing in a particular direction, and means for ejecting without capsizing blanks facing in the opposite direction.

15. Apparatus for arranging blanks and the like, including a continuously revolving holder having a plurality of pockets, means for feeding blanks to said pockets, a reciprocable plunger associated with each of said pockets and travelling with said holder, means for successively projecting said plungers into the pockets, said plungers ejecting and capsizing blanks facing in a particular direction, and a fluid blast for ejecting Without capsizing blanks facing in the opposite direction.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS. JOSEPH BAUMAN. 

